Deatachable Hat Band

ABSTRACT

A hat band apparatus includes a hat band having an exterior portion configured to be outwardly visible when the hat band is secured to a hat and an interior portion opposite the exterior portion, and means for securing the hat band to the hat such that the band is detachable from the hat.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No.61/141,004, filed on Dec. 29, 2008, incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a detachable hat band apparatus forapplication to a hat.

Many people complete their sophisticated look by wearing a hat whichincorporates a hat band. In order to look stylish and attractive, it maydesirable to have the color of the hat band match the suit and/or othergarments of the wearer. In order to complement a variety of clothingand/or to be able to present multiple “looks”, one may have to purchaseseveral hats of various colors. This can become prohibitively expensive.Storing these hats without having them incur damage may also be anarduous task. One may also have limited space for storing such items.Also, in some cases, it may be desirable to add a hat band to a hatwhich lacks such a band, in order to complement the other apparel of awearer. Thus, having a simple way to transform the appearance of asingle hat may save consumers money and space versus purchasing andstoring multiple hats.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of embodiments of the present invention, a hat bandapparatus is provided including a hat band having an exterior portionconfigured to be outwardly visible when the hat band is secured to ahat, and an interior portion opposite the exterior portion, and meansfor securing the hat band to the hat such that the band is detachablefrom the hat.

In another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, a system ofinterchangeable hat bands is provided. The system includes a first hatband apparatus detachably securable to a hat, and at least one secondhat band apparatus configured so as to be interchangeable on the hatwith the first hat band apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of an exterior portion of a detachable hat bandapparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of an interior portion of the detachable hat bandapparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view of a detachable hat band formed as a continuous stripof material in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hat incorporating a detachable hatband in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view of an interior portion of a detachable hat bandapparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing application of a system ofinterchangeable hat bands in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention to a hat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a detachable hat band apparatus in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the hat banddescribed herein are sold under one or both of the trademarksVERSA-BAND™ or VERSA-BAND SYSTEM™. As used herein, the terms“detachable”, “detachably secured”, and “detachably securable” asapplied to a hat band apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention is understood to mean that the hat band is configuredso that it can be quickly and easily secured to and removed from a hataccording to the needs or desires of a wearer of the hat. The hat bandsmay be produced for a wide variety of hat designs, for men's hats,women's hats, and children's hats as desired. Bands in accordance withembodiments of the present invention may be configured for any hat thatincorporates a hat band or that may have a hat band applied thereto.

Referring to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hat bandapparatus includes a band 12 having an interior portion 14 which facesthe crown portion 16 a of a hat 16, and an exterior portion 18 which isoutwardly visible when the band is secured to the hat. Band 12 also hasa length L, a width W, a first free end 20 and a second free end 22opposite the first free end. Exterior portion 18 may have a pattern orcolor applied thereto.

Known manufacturing techniques may be sued to form the hat bands. Theparticular manufacturing methods used to fabricate the hat bands maydepend on such factors as the materials from which the bands are to beformed.

A hat band in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention maybe formed from any suitable material, for example, ribbon, cloth, animalskin (such as leather or crocodile skin), or any other suitable materialor materials. The wide variety of materials from which the hat band maybe formed enables a wide variety of patterns, colors, designs, andtextures to be applied to the hat band, to conform to or complementarticles of clothing being worn by the wearer of the hat, and tootherwise accommodate the preferences of the wearer. For example, theband may be formed from an elastic material stretchable to wrap aroundand adhere to a crown portion of the hat.

Hat bands may be fabricated for application to a wide range of hatdimensions and designs. Particular dimensions of the detachable hat bandmay depend on the requirements of a particular application. For example,such factors as the means to be used to attach the hat band to the hat,the configuration of the hat design, and the size or size ranges of thehat may affect the actual dimensions of the bands. In a particularembodiment, a hat band in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention has a length in the range of about 22 inches to about 24inches, and a width of about ⅜ inches.

The hat band is securable to the hat using methods that help ensure thatthe band will remain secured in a desired position on the hat duringnormal use of the hat. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, band 12is secured to the hat using an adhesive. In a particular embodiment, theadhesive is in the form of an adhesive tape, such as a double-sidedadhesive tape 26 applied to hat interior portion 14. The tape may beapplied the interior portion 14 as a single piece (FIG. 2) or inmultiple pieces 28 spaced along the length of the hat band (as seen inFIG. 5).

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a single piece of double-sidedadhesive tape 26 is applied to the interior portion 14 of the band toadhere the band to a hat. The tape may have a peelable backing stripalong one side which is exposed to a user after the tape is applied tothe interior portion of the band. For attachment of the hat band to thehat, this backing strip is removed to expose the adhesive and the bandis positioned and secured to the hat as desired.

In a particular embodiment, a single piece of double-sided adhesive tapeis used having a length within the range of approximately 17 inches toapproximately 20 inches, and a width within the range of approximately ¼inches to approximately 5/16 inches.

The hat band apparatus may be fabricated to include the tape pre-appliedto the band for the convenience of a user. Alternatively, one or morestrips of tape may be sold separately from the hat band or inconjunction with the hat band. The tape may be applied directly to theband, or the tape may be applied directly to a desired portion of thehat by a user. The band is then positioned over the tape and pressedonto the tape to secure the band to the hat. Other modes of attachmentare also contemplated.

In another embodiment, for example, the hat band may be formed from anelastic material which stretches to enable application of the band tothe hat, then contracts to aid in retaining the band to the hat. Thematerial may have any of a variety of patterns or colors applied to thevisible exterior portion 18 of the band.

The hat band may be formed as a continuous strip of material (similar instructure to a rubber or elastic band) or the hat band may have discretefree ends such as 20 and 22 as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 which are securedto each other either prior to application of the hat band to the hat.Alternatively, the ends of the band may be secured to each other or tothe hat after the hat band has been positioned on the hat.

Where the band is secured to the hat by securing the free ends of theband to each other, ends of the band may be pulled taught prior tosecurement of the ends to generate a tension force in the band to aid insecuring the band to the hat.

Free ends of the hat band may be secured using any of a variety ofmethods. In one embodiment, ends of the hat band are secured to eachother using one or more staples. In another embodiment, ends of the bandare secured to each other with a glue or adhesive. In anotherembodiment, ends of the band are secured to each other (or to the hatitself) using one or more pieces of adhesive tape. In anotherembodiment, ends of the band are secured to each other (or to the hatitself) using a decorative article, such as a clip, ribbon, bow or othersuch device. In another embodiment, ends of the band are secured to eachother by stitching. In another embodiment, one or more strips of amaterial which, in relation to the material of the hat and when appliedto the hat, produces a relatively high friction coefficient between thematerials. This facilitates securement of the hat band to the hat byfriction, rather than using adhesives. Alternatively, the hat band maybe formed from a material as just described.

Two or more detachable hat bands in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention may be combined to form a system of interchangeablehat bands.

As used herein, the term “interchangeable” as applied to a hat band inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention is understood tomean that the hat band is configured to be detachable from a hat andreplaceable on the hat with another of the hat bands. The systemincludes first hat band 30 detachably securable to a hat 116 and atleast one second hat band 32 configured so as to be interchangeable onthe hat 116 with the first hat band. The system may include any desirednumber of detachable hat bands. Hat band 32 may easily and convenientlybe removed and replaced with band 30 according to the needs of thewearer.

Using a hat band apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention, the appearance of a hat can easily be changed so asto complement a variety of suits or other clothing. Thus, a wearer canadapt the appearance of a single hat to required needs, rather thanpurchasing and maintaining multiple hats with different band colors orpatterns.

It will be understood that the foregoing descriptions of embodiments ofthe present invention are for illustrative purposes only. As such, thevarious structural and operational features herein disclosed aresusceptible to a number of modifications commensurate with the abilitiesof one of ordinary skill in the art, none of which departs from thescope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A hat band apparatus comprising: a hat band including an exteriorportion configured to be outwardly visible when the hat band is securedto a hat, and an interior portion opposite the exterior portion; andmeans for securing the hat band to the hat such that the band isdetachable from the hat.
 2. The hat band apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe hat band is formed as a continuous strip of material.
 3. The hatband apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hat band has a first free end anda second free end opposite the first free end.
 4. The hat band apparatusof claim 1 wherein the means for securing the hat band to the hatcomprises at least one piece of double-sided adhesive tape.
 5. The hatband apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hat band has a length in the rangeof about 22 inches to about 24 inches.
 6. The hat band apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the hat band has a width of about ⅜ inches.
 7. A systemof interchangeable hat bands, comprising: a first hat band apparatusdetachably securable to a hat; and at least one second hat bandapparatus configured so as to be interchangeable on the hat with thefirst hat band apparatus.